Skype Technologies, which offers software that allows users to make free phone calls over the Internet, says that it is closer to launching a new prepay service in which users can make cheap calls to any phone around the world from their PCs. The Luxembourg-based Internet telephony company announced deals with four carriers to route calls for the upcoming service this week, saying that the agreements will speed the company toward launching the global service dubbed SkypeOut.

Skype, which was founded by the creators of the Kazaa peer-to-peer file-sharing software, currently offers software that gives users the ability to call other Skype users around the world for free using P-to-P technology. Over 7.5 million people are now using the service, according to a Skype spokesperson, and the software is available in 20 languages.